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Controversial VHP leader to embrace Sikhism

Vishwa Hindu Parishad central secretary B L Sharma 'Prem', the man who had caused a furore by describing the rape of three nuns in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, in September last year as the handiwork of "patriotic youths", today announced his decision to embrace the Khalsa Panth.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Baba Virsa Singh, head of the Gobind Sadan, said Prem, who was impressed by the "original heroic traditions of the Khalsa", will be baptised a Sikh on March 29.

Baba Virsa Singh also gave him a new name, Prem Singh.

The VHP leader, who described Sikhism as a panth (sect) and Hinduism as a religion, said Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa to protect the people from oppression.

"It is in this spirit that I and my wife Krishna Sharma have decided to declare myself a humble Khalsa of Guru Gobind Singh," the former MP from East Delhi said.

Speaking on the occasion, religious leader Yugpurush Swami Paramanand said every family today should have one member in the Khalsa. But he did not answer why.

Meanwhile, the VHP and the Sikh Sangat will begin a month-long joint sant yatra (procession of saints) on March 18 to bring spiritual awakening among the people and mark 300 years of the Khalsa Panth.

The yatra will begin from Patna Sahib in Bihar and end at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab on April 13, Baisakhi Day, marking the completion of 300 years of the Panth.

It will travel through Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi, where the yatris will visit many historic and religious places.

More than 100,000 saints from different faiths are expected to participate in the journey, VHP leaders said.

UNI

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